DAVAO CITY— The two-day Visayas Preliminaries of the on-going PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup will kick-off on Saturday through Sunday at the Bago City Coliseum in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
The screening and acceptance of entries will be on February 2 at the same venue, according to supervising tournament director Rogelio Fortaleza of the Philippine Sports Institute.
The categories in the Junior Boys and Girls Division (15 to 16 yrs. Old is the Pinweight (44-46 kg.), Light flyweight (48 kg.), Flyweight (50 kg.), Light Bantamweight (52 kg.) and Bantamweight (54 kg.) while in Youth Boys (17-18 yrs. Old) are Light flyweight (46-49 kg.), Flyweight (52 kg.), Bantamweight (56 kg.), Lightweight (60 kg.) and Light Welterweight (64 kg.)
The Youth Girls (17-18) only has four weight categories – Light Flyweight (45-48 kg.), Flyweight (52 kg.), Bantamweight (54 kg.) and Featherweight (57 kg.).
The cut-off date for the junior category is from 2001-2002 while for the youth is 1999-2000.
The previous leg was the Luzon Preliminaries held in Sorsogon City with almost 100 boxers from 22 teams.
The nationwide grassroots development program is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in coordination with the Office of Senator Manny Pacquiao.
The winners will advance to the Visayas Quarter Finals slated February 17 and 18 at a still to be announced venue.
The Visayas Semi-Finals, however, will be held on March 10 in San Jose, Antique while the Visayas Finals is on March 31 in Maasin City.
The Visayas Finals winners will later advance to the National Championship Preliminaries on April 21 and 22 in Mandaluyong City.
The National Quarter Finals will be on April 28 in Tagbilaran City in Bohol followed by the National Semi-Finals on May 5 in Tagum City.
The National Finals will be on May 12 in Sarangani Province.
Cash prizes and medals are up for grabs for the winners, who will also get a chance to be part of the Philippine national training pool. For inquiry, contact the PSC Support Services – Annie Ruiz (09397627553).